Platform insert for shoes



Oct- 23, 1951 SCHWARTZ 2,572,670

PLATFORM INSERT FOR SHOES Filed Dec. 29, 1949 INVENTOR ARTHUR D. SCHWARTZ ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICER 2,572,s70 v PLATFORM INSERT FOR sHoEs Arthur D. Schwartz, New York, Y. Application December 29, 1949, Serial No. 135,585

lClaim. 1

The present invention relates to an article of manufacture that may be removably fitted as a full length platform lining therefor inside a separately manufactured shoe.

The present invention has particular application to feminine footwear and more particularly to open toe and open'back shoes.

The article of manufacture here contemplated may be referred to as an inside platform and contemplates the provision of a means which will serve as an adapter for new or previously worn shoes to accomplish a variety of purposes, among which are:

1. To alter the width of shoes of any construction, some of which are hand-turned, compo-process, welt, stitchdown, California process, and so forth.

2. To improve the appearance by substantially preventing toe or toes from protruding from the front of an open-toed shoe.

3. To improve the appearance by substantially preventing heel of foot from moving too far forward from the back edge of an open-heeled shoe.

4. To improve the fitting and comfort by substantially preventing the large toe from hitting and pressing against the toe-boxing of a closed toe shoe. This type of defective fitting with the resultant constant contact of the large toe with the toe-boxing can, at best, cause enlargement of the joint of the large toe, at worst, a bunion.

5. To improve the fitting and comfort by holding the heel of the foot in substantially the proper position in relation to the counter of a closedback shoe.

6. To accomplish one or another or several of the above alterations without lifting the heel of the foot higher than the original hee1-seat. Failure to maintain the position of the original heelseat, in the case of a closed-back shoe, would reduce the depth of the counter, which might cause slipping at the heel, possibly resulting in. the formation of blisters, callouses, and wearing out of hose. Failure to maintain the position of the original heel-seat, in the case of an open-back shoe, would change the position of the back-strap of the shoe in relation to the curve at the back of the heel of the foot, which might also cause the heel of shoe, weakening same, pushing it backwards "away from the shoe, looseningit, weakeningthe shank of the shoe, possibly even causing an accident.

The present use of the open-toed shoes is limited-to feet that find sufficient'support in the shoe itself to prevent the big toe from sliding through the opening. Many open toed shoes that have been purchased cannot be used because'the wearers find that, in-actual use, the great toe slidesthrough the-opening, making it unsightly in appearance and uncomfortable to the wearer.

My invention involves combining in a single article of manufacture, the functions of an insert or filler and a platform lining of either one-piece or two-piececonstruction so as to provide the utility of a liftfor the fore-portion of thefoot and a platform lining for the Whole foot-,but essentiall for the rear portion of the foot. The insert "or filler-for the fore-portion of the foot de-' creases the space in the fore-portion of the shoe, thus eliminating the possibility of the toe sliding through the opening in open-toed shoes. It also provides amore-comfortable base for the foot and improves the fit of all novelty shoes.

There is no satisfactory'medium by which the wearer herself, can alter a Worn pairof shoes-,- which, because of stretching have become 'ill-' fitting, unsightly looking, uncomfortable and un wearable.

The need for alterations in shoes exists in the case of new shoes, just as it does in garments'because, as in garments, all patterns do not run true to size, and besides, in shoes, all lasts do not run true to size. The need of alteration, in the' case of worn shoes, reaches greater proportions because ofstretching; i

Novelty shoes are usually made in only two' widths, narrow and medium, equal approximately to AA and B, respectively. The lady who needs AAA or AAAA cannot be fit without alteration. When a shoe runs oversize, instead of true to size ,'the shoe requiring B width can usually be fit with narrow, but the foot requiring AA width cannot be fit without alteration. Some;

shoes, such as California process and stitchdowns and welts do not permit alteration by' any method presently available. Others, such as hand turn and compo-process do allowalteration, usually by lifting the fore-part of the plat-' form lining and in a slipshod manner loosely placinga cork-bonded filler, known to the trade, as a jimmy between the platform lining and the outer sole, as a rule, without the customer's know1edge;"" we These, other and further uses, advantages and objects of the present invention will be clear from the following description and the drawing appended thereto, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional open toe and open heel shoe partially broken away to illustrate the application thereto of an article of manufacture embodying my invention as worn on a foot.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, showing the sheet for protecting the pressure sensitive adhesive partially removed from the article of manufacture.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of an article of manufacture according to my invention and commaterial which is thicker at the sole 28 and thinner at the shank 30 and heel portion 32 or may comprise an upper ply and lower ply with a comparatively thicker pad held therebetween.

The under pad 22, which is similar in outline shape to the sole 28 and at the front 34 thereof is bevelled and extends upwardly from a thin section to the thicker body section and at the rear 36 thereof is similarly bevelled and extends upwardly from the thicker body section of the under pad 22 into a thin section.

In actual practice, although it will be understood that these dimensions are suggestive only,

prising a removable shoe inset from' which the pressure sensitive adhesive protecting sheet has been removed.

Referring now to the drawing, an article of.

manufacture comprising my invention, generally indicated by the reference character l0 (see Fig. 1) may be inserted as an inside platform (a name which I have chosen for my invention) a platform or lining for a shoe [2 to cover the outsole l4. shank l6 and heel section l8 thereof, to accomplish the objects of my invention heretofore set out and in the manner which I shall hereinafter describe.

The inside platform ll] of my invention finds particular application for a shoe having an open toe and for one having an open back, such as the shoe l2 illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, inside platform I0 comprises the relatively thin upper ply 20, which may be made from any satisfactory flexible material, such as real or imitation leather, other fabric, plastic, etc., the relatively thicker underpad 22, made from cork, leather or similar resilient material, the coating 24 of pressure sensitive adhesive on the bottom surface of the composite inside platform and the sheet 26 which protects the tacky surface of the adhesive coating 24 from contact with other objects prior to in serting the inside platform for its contemplated use in a shoe.

The under pad 22 is secured as by a suitable cement to the sole 28 of my inside platform 10 (see Figs. 2 and 3) and extends to the shank 30 thereof which connects the sole 28 with the heel portion 32.

The coating of adhesive therefore covers the bottoms of the under pad 22, the shank 30 and heel portion 32.

To use my inside platform, it is placed in a shoe with the backing or sheet 26 thereon so that the adhesive which is characteristically tacky, will not stick to the inside of the .shoe. Should the inside platform be too large for the shoe, it (the inside platform) may be trimmed to size with a scissors after which the backing or sheet 26 is removed.

The inside platform is then set in place .in a shoe and pressed evenly against the insole, shank and inheel of the shoe. The pressure sensitive adhesive makes the inside platform self adhering and insures that it will stay in DOSition and will not move when walked upon.

Should it be desired at any time thereafter to remove the inside platform -|-0 from the shoe in which it was placed, this may :be done easily without destroying or damaging either the platform 40 or the shoe 12., since one of thecharactcristics of a pressure sensitive adhesive is non permanence of adhesion.

The inside platform I0 may bemade I have found that my article of manufacture may vary in thickness from one thirty second of an inch at the front thereof to three sixteenth of an inch at the back thereof.

This bevelled construction cushions the ball of I the foot of the wearer to give to the shoe in which my platform or lining is inserted a resilient padlike feeling.

It will now be apparent that the article of manufacture of my invention will accomplish the following results when worn with either new or old shoes:

1. Prevent the toes from extending too far in open shoes.

2. Bring the heels of the wearer closely adjacent to the edges of open back shoes.

3. Reduce the possibility of the toes of the foot hitting in closed shoes to thereby hurt them.

4. Reduce slipping up and down on the foot of closed back shoes.

5. Relieve cutting at the instep of the wearer since any sore spot on the foot is moved from contact with the instep binding.

6. Relieve crowding of the toes by moving the foot to the rear where the shoe is wider.

'7. In the event that one foot is somewhat smaller than the other, will equalize the fitting of both shoes 8. Permit the wearing of shoes of extreme or so-called high styles, which would otherwise not be available to many persons.

Further, the use of my inside platform or platform lining will give support to worn shoes which may have been stretched.

It will also be recognized that once placed in a shoe, articles of manufacture embodying my invention will be held in the position assumed by them and will not slip or move about in the shoe.

It will be understood that changes in the construction and arrangement of the elements forming my article of manufacture will occurto those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and purpose of my invention.

Hence, .it is my intention to .cover by the claim appended hereto any modified forms of structure or use of equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

A platform insert for shoes formed from an upper ply of relatively thin .flexibie material of equal thickness throughout and a relatively thickunder pad therebetween at the sole section, said under pad being thin at the front. of the platform and increasing toward the shank section in thickness to a thicker section adjacent the front of the sole section, said under pad being thin at t shank se t o n in r sing. h c n s toward the sole section to a thicker section whereby the pad is bevelled upwardly and rearwardly at the front thereof and downwardly and forwardly at the rear thereof, the thicker section of said under pad between the bevels being equal in thickness, the sole section being formed from the upper ply under pad and lower ply and the shank and heel sections formed from the upper and lower plies, a coating of pressure sensitive material covering the platform insert throughout the under ply and a removable sheet covering the coating to protect the tacky pressure sensitive coating.

ARTHUR D. SCHWARTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Stevens Nov. 28, 1882 Preble Sept. 4, 1906 Bemis May 26, 1908 Keiser Apr. 25, 1933 Lattemann July 23, 1935 Cronan et a1. Mar. 10, 1936 Everston Mar. 17, 1942 Whitman Aug. 11, 1942 Everston May 9, 1944 Everston Aug. 21, 1945 Mees Aug. 6, 1946 Everston Sept. 20, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Italy Apr. 7, 1939 

